India News | .SHIMLA/CHANDIGARH DEL75 KANGANA-LD PROTESTS Himachal Assembly Adopts Resolution to Condemn Kangana's Remarks, AAP Protests in Haryana

Shimla/ Chandigarh, Aug 27 (PTI) The opposition on Tuesday stepped up attack on BJP MP Kangana Ranaut over her remarks on farmers protest with a Congress-backed resolution in Himachal Pradesh Assembly condemning her comments and AAP holding protests at several places in Haryana.

The MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh had posted a clip of her interview with Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar in which she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have erupted in India but for the country's strong leadership. She then alleged that bodies were hanging and rapes were taking place during the farmers' protest against the now-repealed three farm laws.

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She alleged the involvement of China and the US in the "conspiracy".

Kangana's remarks triggered heated exchanges in the assembly of her Congress-ruled home state with the House adopting a resolution condemning the remarks.

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With Haryana going to polls on October 1, the opposition targeted the ruling BJP over the issue. The Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit staged protests in the state against her remarks, with a party leader saying her statement indicates the BJP's "mindset" towards farmers. The AAP leaders and workers held protests at various places including Jind, Yamunanagar, and Panchkula.

In the Himachal Assembly, as soon as the opposition BJP staged a walkout over rejection of its adjournment motion on law and order situation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said remarks of Kangana are insulting for the entire farm community of the country. After the BJP members returned to the House, he asked them to clear their stand on the issue.

Members from both sides started raising slogans as Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said Kangana's remarks are personal and it is not the view of the party.

The BJP had on Monday denounced the film actor for her disparaging remarks on the farmers agitation, as it expressed disagreement with her views and made it clear that she is neither permitted nor authorised to comment on the party's policy matters.

Thakur said the BJP is with the party high command and said according to the convention, discussions cannot be held on a person who is not present in the House.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu supported the resolution and said the BJP should have come forward to discuss the issue.

Supporting the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the farmers are furious over the remarks of Kangana and the BJP should seriously consider its conduct.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said an FIR should be registered against the actor as her remarks can create a law and order situation.

Kuldeep Singh Rathore of the Congress said Kangana is habitual of making ridiculous remarks.

Pacifying the agitated members, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said a resolution condemning the remarks of Kangana has been passed by the House and there is no need for further discussions.

Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and her mother Pratibha Singh, who is the state Congress president, hit out at Kangana, terming her remarks on the farmers' protest as "reckless and misinformed".

The Congress leaders, in two separate statements, condemned Ranaut's remarks, and said they were a grave insult to the farmers.

Kangana had defeated Vikramaditya in the Lok Sabha election from Mandi.

Vikramaditya, in a statement, said, "Her baseless allegations questioning the role of USA and China in the farmer unrest are ludicrous, not grounded in reality, and showcase her intellectual bankruptcy... As a member of the treasury benches and an elected representative of Mandi parliamentary segment, Kangana Ranaut should be restrained while speaking on such sensitive issues.

"It is noteworthy that the Union Government, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, should respond to her claims, which undermine the nation's foreign policy," Singh said.

The minister said such statements against a particular segment of society, namely farmers, are an insult to their struggles and sacrifices, and added that the statement is especially unacceptable given that the "black laws" have been rolled back by the prime minister.

"We demand an apology from her for her insensitive and divisive remarks," he said.

Himachal Pradesh Congress president and former MP Pratibha Singh said even though the BJP has expressed disagreement with Kangana's remarks in one of its statements, the party's refusal to apologise to the farmers of the country for the "insulting statement exposes its double standards".

The Haryana unit of AAP held demonstrations at various places with state senior vice president Anurag Dhanda leading a protest in the Yamunanagar district. The protesters carrying placards raised slogans against the BJP government.

Haryana AAP president Sushil Gupta dubbed Ranaut's remarks "shameful". He alleged the BJP hated farmers because they forced them to roll back the "black" farm laws.

Kangana has made such statements on farmers earlier also, Gupta said, and alleged it has been the "mentality" of the BJP that those who abuse farmers are rewarded with posts.

Her remarks indicate the "mindset" of the BJP towards farmers, he further alleged.

Thousands of farmers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and other places had held an agitation at Delhi's borders for several months over the now-repealed farm laws.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)